Surprise rewards may boost movement speed, hinting that dopamine signals in the brain help control motivation and physical vigor.

Dopamine is trending as the most popular neurotransmitter. And why not? There are days I think it rules the world or at least the day–to-day activities of my friends and family. The craving you have ...

Humans and animals share a remarkable capacity to sense when others are in distress and respond with comforting behavior. But the motivation for doing so, and why it sometimes breaks down, has been ...

As young people reach adulthood, their preferences for sweet foods typically decline. But for people with obesity, new research suggests that the drop-off may not be as steep and that the brain's ...

A mom and science writer offers an operating manual for parents grappling with kids' screen use and cravings for sweets.